Review by C.J. Bunce
Speed Grapher is a popular 24-episode anime series from 2005, produced by the studio Gonzo, making its way to the states three years later. Writer-artist Tomozo adapted the show into a manga, serialized between 2005 and 2006. Speed Grapher is the latest manga getting a new edition from publisher Titan Manga, with Volume 1 available for pre-order now here at Amazon and Volume 2 coming in July. The violence and tone put this unique fantasy story in the mature teen category. Former war photographer Saiga is now a paparazzi, looking for top dollar for celebrity photos. When he stumbles into Tokyo mob activity, he encounters a “fetish club” like in Eyes Wide Shut, exploiting girls. One 15-year-old named Kagura, the club’s mascot “goddess,” is daughter to a high-ranking mobster, but she also has supernatural abilities. These strange elements all come together to create an action-heavy world of Tokyo Vice meets Firestarter.
Preview images reprinted here from Titan do not include final English text, lettered by Bensidi Ayoub.
In the first volume readers meet Saiga as he is about to be killed for trying to photograph Kagura. But she kisses him, and like the Princess and the Frog, it gives him the ability to shoot people with his camera and kill them. Camera-related lingo is twisted into the story throughout. A 15-year-old kissing an adult is one of several themes that wouldn’t make it into mainstream Western comics, but none of the visuals are graphic and where nudity is intended Tomozo’s art style presents his characters mostly in an impressionistic way.
This story won’t be for everyone, but it has all the manga elements you’d expect–the female lead is naive and unfamiliar with her own plight, her own mother part of a scheme that hides that nature of her assaults. But Kagura is seeing the reality she has faced in nightmares, and the story hints her personal crisis will be coming to a head in future volumes. The male lead in contrast is cocky and yet he has a moral code. A dark rubber-like creature serves as the requisite monster, although the mob seems to be cast as the real villains here, especially a quiet henchman named Choji, whose true loyalties are yet to be revealed.
Tomozo puts some humor into the book via little comic drawings between chapters that poke fun at the drama. But the balance of serious issues and fantasy supernatural action don’t mesh quite yet. It’s only the first volume and difficult to see where the characters and situations are heading, but there’s enough here to keep readers wanting to see what will happen next. A note for sensitive readers, like many contemporary fantasies out of Japan, suicide is a theme.
Speed Grapher is the latest English edition of popular Japanese titles from Titan Books’ Titan Manga imprint. Check out our borg reviews of Alpi–The Soul Sender here, Witch of Thistle Castle here, The Poetry of Ran here, The Great Yokai War: Guardians Volume 1 here, and a discussion of Kamen Rider: Kuuga and Atom: The Beginning here.
In the right hands the nature of fantasy and dark drama may find its audience. Tomozo’s art style and layouts make for an easy read, although his blend of ideas seems a bit over-the-top. Speed Grapher Volume 1 available for pre-order now here at Amazon and look for Volume 2 coming in July.
